Abstract
The Toll gene encodes an interleukin 1 receptor-like protein that mediates dorsoventral polarity in the Drosophila embryo. The possible involvement of Toll or Toll-like proteins also in the Drosophila immune response was investigated by overexpressing Toll10B, a constitutively active mutant protein, in the Drosophila blood cell line mbn-2. Induction of the Cecropin A1 (CecA1) gene, coding for a bactericidal peptide, was used as an indicator for the immune response. Toll10B was found to increase CecA1 transcription, as detected with a cotransfected CecA1-lacZ reporter gene construct. This effect depends on the presence of a kappa B-like site in the CecA1 promoter. The endogenous Toll gene is expressed in mbn-2 cells, indicating that this gene may normally play a role in Drosophila blood cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides*
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Cell Line
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Drosophila
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
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Hemocytes / immunology*
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Insect Hormones / genetics
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Insect Hormones / metabolism*
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Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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NF-kappa B / metabolism
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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Receptors, Cell Surface*
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Receptors, Interleukin-1 / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction*
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Toll-Like Receptors
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Drosophila Proteins
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Insect Hormones
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Lipopolysaccharides
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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NF-kappa B
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, Interleukin-1
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Tl protein, Drosophila
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Toll-Like Receptors
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cecropin A